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2 Sheets-Sheet 2;

(ModeL) I J. L.& c. PLHOWARD; Berth Look for'Sleep ing Oars. N 233,374.

Patented June 28,1881.

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UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

JAMES L HOWARD AND CHARLES P. HOWARD, OF HARTFORD, CONN.

BERTH-LOCK FOR SLEEPING-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent- No. 243,374, dated June28, 1881.

Application filed April 27, 1881. (Model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES L. HOWARD and CHARLES P. HOWARD, citizens ofthe United States, and residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartfordand State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful SafetyBerth-Lock for Railroad Sleeping-Oars; and we do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing bad to the annexed drawings, and letters of reference markedthereon, forming a part of this our specification of said invent-ion.

The object of our invention is to provide a safety berth-lock for theupper berths of sleeping-cars, which berths are hinged longitudinallytothe car-wall above the windowsin such manner that they may be thrown upfrom the horizontal sleeping position which they occupy at night into aninclined or vertical position suitable to accommodate day-travel, andwhen so turned up out of the way are locked in position byspring-catches, which engage with the wall of the car.

Hitherto hinged berths have been provided with spring-latches whichalways stand, out, ready to come into action to fasten the berth whenthe latter is thrown up from a horizontal to an inclined or a verticalposition, and thus in case of an accident in which the car becomesoverturned the berth is liable to close, lock in, and smother theoccupant.

Our invention provides for lockin g the spring-latches in or back, andthereby keeping them in a condition of non-action so long as the berthis occupied by'a person, and until the berth is to be closed up out ofthe way, suitable for day-travel, by the porter in charge.

Having reference to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents, inperspective, so much of the frame of a hinged car-berth as is necessaryto illustrate the application thereto of our safety-lock, the view beingtaken from the outside, showing the operating-handle of the look, itscup-plate, and the latches in the positions occupied when the berth isclosed and locked. Fig. 2 is a similar view, looking at the inner sideof that portion of the berthframe which carries the safety-lock, theparts being in the positions they will maintain when the berth isoccupied. Fig. 3 is a sectional view, the latches bein g shown as lookedback when the berth is in use, same as in Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a similarview, the latches being shown as projected to lock the berth when notarm, and the pivoted connections between the latter and thelatch-operating rods.

As represented in the drawings, the latches a a are pivoted between theends of p 'fojecting lugs b b of fixed metallic plates b b at theopposite ends of the berth-frame 0, and they are connected forsimultaneous action, so as to fasten the berth, when it is not in use,in a closed position, as well as to prevent their fastening functioncoming into action when the berth is in use, they being controlled byturning and pulling the handle IL. The free ends of the latches a aswing next to the inner side of the berth-frame, as shown, and they havea throw beyond. the endsof said frame sufficient to surely lock it withthe carwall or berth-casing when closed. A draw bar or rod, d, having across-head or pivotal connection, d, with'the free end of each latch, isfitted to slide in a guide, as at e, in the latchplate 1), independentof its lock-operating connections. A spring, f, coiled upon the rod d,

between the guide 0 and ashoulder or stop, 9, on the draw-bar (1, servesto outwardly project the draw-bar and its connected latch when thehandle-locking device, with which the drawbar is connected, is'released.

The catch-1ockin g device proper is, by preference, centrally located inthe berth-frame, and consists, primarily, of a handle-spindle, h j,provided with a cross-arm, l, and a fixed cap, k, adapted to serve, ifrequired, as a bearing for the innerend of said spindle and alockingplate for its cross-arm. The handle h, with its spindle, forms aT, and is fitted within a hub of a sunken or cup plate, 13,- as shown,said plate being secured by screws to the side of the berth-frame,andforming the outer bearing for the spindle, and by its cup form giving.the advantage of setting the handle h within a recess. The spindle jprojects a suitable distance on the inner side of the berth-framc andmay have its inner bearing in the cap 7a, which is secured by screws tosaid frame. The cross-arm lis located within the cap 70, and the cap isformed with ratchet-projections m on its inner side, with which the saidcross-arm is adapted to be locked. Rods it connect the arms Z lwith thelatch draw-bars d (I, such connection being made by bosses 0, pivoted orswivelcd to said arms so as to properly articulate and accommodatethemselves tothe turning of the arms, while the connection of these rods42 with the draw-bars d is made by openlinkspp, as shown,to allow thedraw-bars to move independently of the lock-' connecting rods n it, whenthe latches a a are released and forced back in closing and locking theberth to the car-wall, and so relieve the lockin g device from any backaction of the latch-rods at, as well as the rods n from becomingcramped. In other words, the links 19, which are fixedly attached to thedraw-bars d, as indicated at d, Fig. 4, freely slide or travel along andupon a portion of the rods a, while these rods remain stationary duringthe act of closing and locking the berth to the car-wall. The spindlejis so constructed and applied that itis adapted for longitudinal andturning movements within its bearings, such movements being imparted toit in order to lock and unlock the spindle-arms l lfrom theratchet-teeth m of the fixed cap 7c; and for the purpose of maintainingthe lock of said arms when made, a spring, q, coiled upon the spindle ata point between the arms Z and the inner side of the cup-plate t, asshown, constantly tends to force the spindle inward and to hold its armsZ securely locked with the ratchet-projection m of the fixed cap. Theratchet-teeth are slightly out under or beveled inward to prevent anytendency of the arms to slip off. On turning the handle h its connectedrods n pull the drawbars 01 inward, and with them the free ends of thelatches a, while at the same time the arms I, riding over the inclinedfaces 4 of the ratchetteeth m, will force the handled spindle hj outwardagainst the tension of the spring 1 until the arms pass from theinclined faces, whereupon said arms will be snapped behind the teeth anunder the action of the spring q, forein g the spindle and its arms Iinward, and thus securely lockin g the latches flush with the sides ofthe berth, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. 0n pulling out the spindle tofree the arms l from the ratchet-teeth m, the force of the draw-barsprings f upon the draw-bars d and rods it throws out the latches andthrusts the spindlearms 1 down the inclined faces of the ratchets,thereby causing the lock to assume the position signified in Fig. 4; andin order to furnish means for limiting the throw of these parts we makea provision which, as to the latches, consists of a projection, s, onthe draw-bars d, and stops 8 s on the latch-plates I), while the throwof the cross-arms l is limited by stops, as at t t, on the inner side ofthe fixed cap 70.

The draw-l ar connection with the latch, be-

ing formed by cross-bearings 01, might in time become loose from wear,and to prevent rattling of this pivoted connection and of theswing-latch upon its pivots a sprin g, u, is placed on thecross-bearing, as shown, so as to press against the latch and bind itupon its bear-in gs.

The lock connecting rods n are screwed into the pivoted or swiveledbosses 0 of the spindle-arms l, as shown, and by this means ofconnection they may be properly adjusted to the required movements ofthe said arms and the swing of the latches a.

When the porter wishes to make up an upper berth for the night, to whichour safety berth-lock is applied, he turns the handle it hard to theright, drawing back both latches from their position, shown in Fig. 4,and, releasing the berth, lowers it in position. In thus turning thehandle its spindle-arms l 1 become locked with the fixed cap 70, and thelatches are thereby secured within the berth-frame, as indicated inFigs. 2 and 3, so that if, by any accident, the berth should be slammedback into its wall-recess the latches will be held in a condition ofnon-action, and cannot lock the berth. To swing the berth up for theday, the porter pulls out the handle, thus releasing the lock of thearms Z, whereupon the latches are thrown out in positions to lock theberth when closed in its wall-recess.

We will here state that if cords or chains be substituted for theconnecting-rods n n and links 19 the latches may be forced in and outwithout alfectin g the central locking device in the act of latching upthe berth; we prefer, however, the use of the connecting rods and links,as shown; and, further, that our invention can be used in connectionwith slide-latches as well as swing-latches, and that the spindle j maywork without a bearing for its end in the cap 70.

W'e claim- 1. Oneor more spring car-berth latches combined with ahandle, and with means whereby the latches are held positively out ofoperation when the berth is in use, and thrown into operative positionwhen the berth is being moved out of use, substantially as described.

.2. In a lock for the hinged berths of rail-' way-cars, the combinationof the handled spindle h j, provided with a cross arm or arms, 1,

and having both a turning and a longitudinal movement within fixedbearings on the berthtrame, with a fixed ratchet-plate or cap, k m,which forms a lock for the cross arm or arms I, and means for connectingsaid arm or arms with the latch or latches of the berth, substantiallyas described, for the purpose set forth.

3. In a lock for the hinged berths of railway-cars, the combination ofthe handled spin dle h-j, provided with a cross arm or arms, I, andhaving both a turning and a longitudinal movement within fixed hearingson the berthframe, a fixed ratchet-plate 0r cap, m, which forms a lockfor the cross arm or arms I, a spring, q, adapted to control the inwardlongitudinal movement of said handled spindle, and means for connectingsaid arm or arms with the latch or latches of the berth, substantiallyas described, and for the purposes set forth.

4. In the lock for the hinged berths of railway-cars, the combination ofthe handled spindle h j, provided with a cross arm or arms, I, andhaving both a turning and a longitudinal movement within fixed bearingson the berthframe, a fixed ratchet-plate or cap, I: m, which forms alock for the cross arm or arms Z, the stops t t on the fixedratchet-plate, which limit the throw of the arms I l, and means forconnecting said arm or arms with the latch or latches of the berth,substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination, with the latch or latches of theberth, of a lockingand unlocking device connected with the said latches by means of aconnecting contriva-nce, d 1) n, or its equivalent, whereby the latchesare caused to move with the locking device when they are to be locked inor back, and are allowed a movement independent of the locking devicewhen they are not locked in or back, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

6. The combination, in a berth-lock for railway-cars, ot' pivotedswing-latches, draw-bars having pivoted connection with the free orswing ends of said latches, springs f for projecting said latches, and aspring, a, interposed between the latch and its pivoted draw-barconnection, substantially as and for the purpose described.-

7. In a berth-lock for sleeping-cars, the handled spindle, h j, providedwith arms I l, a

fixed locking-plate or cap, 70 m, and the spring q, in combination withthe latch-connecting rods 12 n and the spring draw-bar connections ofthe latches, the said connecting-rods having swiveled or pivoted bossconnections with the arms l l, and the throw of the arms being limitedby the stops t t on the fixed lockingplate, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

8. In a lock for the hinged berths of railwaycars, the combination, withthe berth-frame, of a safety-locking device centrally located therewith,and consisting of a handled spindle provided with cross-arms, aninterior fixed ratchetplate, an exterior sunken or cap plate for saidhandle, and aspring adapted to control the inward longitudinal movementof said handled spindle,the said lockingdevicebeing connected with andactuating latches which at times have movements independent of saidlock-connections, substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. In a berth-lock for railway-cars, the handled spindle h j, providedwith arms Z, and having both a turning and a longitudinal movement, afixed bearing-cap, it, having lockingteeth m, and forming a'guard forthe arms I, in combination with rods n n, pivoted latches a a, anddraw-bars d, having pivoted connection with the swing or free ends ofsaid latches, and adapted for independent movement therewith upon thelock connecting rods n a, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

JAMES LELAND HOWARD. CHARLES PAT'ION HOWARD.

In presence of FRANK L. HOWARD, ALBERT L. BURKE.

